Overview of Gothic Art & Architecture

Key Historical Styles

• Byzantine:

  • Features: Mosaics, icons, and a focus on religious themes. The architecture emphasized domes and expansive interiors.

• Romanesque:

  • Features: Characterized by the use of semi-circular arches, robust structure, sculptural decorations, and a tendency toward plainness. Reliefs and stylized sculpture were common.

• Gothic:

  • Features: Known for its aeriality and lightness, with large stained glass windows, flying buttresses, and more naturalistic sculpture.

Architectural Differences

Structural Key Elements

• Byzantine Architecture: Central-dome Church, typically with a nave and an apse.

• Romanesque Architecture: Barrel-vaulted Church with thick walls and small windows for structural support.

• Gothic Architecture: Pointed Arch Cathedral featuring ribbed vaults and flying buttresses, allowing for higher ceilings and larger windows.

Examples and Dates

• Hagia Sophia (Byzantine)

  • Date: 532-537

  • Location: Constantinople

  • Significance: A masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, showcasing a massive dome and intricate mosaics.

• St. Sernin (Romanesque)

  • Date: Begun 1080

  • Location: Toulouse, France

  • Significance: A prime example of Romanesque design with a longitudinal structure and a barrel vault.

• Chartres Cathedral (Gothic)

  • Date: 1194-1260

  • Location: Chartres, France

  • Significance: Renowned for its stunning stained glass windows and architectural innovation, including a labyrinth design on the floor.

Differences in Style

• Romanesque vs. Gothic

  • Radiating Chapels and Apse:

    • Romanesque: Separate compartments.

    • Gothic: Unified, unbroken space to enhance the light and inspired collective worship experiences.

  • Vaults:

    • Romanesque: Mostly barrel-vaults.

    • Gothic: Groin-vaulted cathedrals which provided an elegant structure for pushing the ceiling upwards.

  • Arch Types:

    • Romanesque: Rounded arches, giving a modest appearance.

    • Gothic: Pointed arches that increased structural integrity and allowed for larger windows.

  • Main Vault Support:

    • Romanesque: Thick walls, buttresses often not needed due to solid structure.

    • Gothic: Exterior flying buttresses that distribute weight and support walls with large openings.

  • Clerestory Windows:

    • Romanesque: Small windows that limited light.

    • Gothic: Large stained-glass windows that filled interiors with colorful light, depicting biblical narratives and theological themes.

Differences in Design

Elevation and Exterior

• Elevation:

  • Romanesque: Horizontal, modest height and mass.

  • Gothic: Vertical, soaring towards the heavens, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

• Exterior Decoration:

  • Romanesque: Plain, little decoration, focusing on stability.

  • Gothic: Ornate, delicate features, with extensive use of sculptures narrating biblical stories.

Sculptural Differences

• Sculptural Decoration:

  • Romanesque: Thin, elongated, abstract figures focused on typological representation.

  • Gothic: More realistic proportions, emphasizing individuality and emotion in figures, including naturalistic draperies.

• Mood:

  • Romanesque: Dark, gloomy ambiance due to limited light and heavy architecture.

  • Gothic: Tall, light-filled spaces that inspire awe and contemplation.

Architectural Examples

• St. Sernin (Romanesque, 1070-1120):

  • Notable for its pilgrimage plan and multiple apses, which provided space for worshippers.

• Amiens Cathedral (High French Gothic, 1220-1236):

  • Tallest and largest cathedral in France, featuring a grand façade and extensive sculpture.

Floorplan Differences

Church of St. Sernin

• Style: Romanesque, structured for supporting large crowds with plain yet effective architectural design.

Amiens Cathedral

• Style: High French Gothic, known for its innovative plan divided into three large naves and a transept, allowing a grand processional space.

Differences in Facades and Buttressing

• Facades:

  • Church of St. Sernin: Romanesque simplicity versus the intricate detailing of the Amiens Cathedral façade.

• Buttressing:

  • The use of Romanesque quality and solid walls contrasts sharply with the more elaborate Gothic flying buttresses, allowing for unimpeded light.

Differences in Fenestration and Naves

• Fenestration:

  • Romanesque windows being small and fewer in number compared to the expansive stained glass in Gothic structures.

• Naves:

  • Romanesque naves are generally larger and more solid, while Gothic naves were narrower but flew higher, allowing lightness in design.

Tympanum Differences

• Sculptural Features:

  • Examples from St. Sernin display basic motifs while those from Amiens Cathedral illustrate deep biblical narratives with intricate storytelling.

Typical Gothic Cross-Section Components:

• Bay, Nave, Aisle, Nave arcade, Clerestory, Cluster pier with colonnettes, Triforium, Buttress, Flying buttress, Wooden roof.

Cologne Cathedral

• Built: 1248-1880

• Noted as: The second largest Gothic cathedral in the world, featuring remarkable twin spires and extensive ornate details.

Building Height Comparison: Notable Structures:

• Khufu's Pyramid

• Cologne Cathedral

• Eiffel Tower

• Empire State Building (NYC)

• World Trade Center (NYC)

• Burj Khalifa (Dubai)

Gothic Styles

• English Gothic:

  • Periods: Early English (1175-1250), Decorated (1250-1300), Perpendicular (1350-1400) highlighting different local adaptations to Gothic design.

• French Gothic:

  • Styles: Early Gothic (1130-1190), High Gothic (1190–1240), Rayonnant Gothic (1240–1350), Late Gothic (Flamboyant) style (1350–1520) showing the evolution across regions.

Notable Cathedrals by Style

• Early French Gothic: Abbey Church of St. Denis (begun 1136-1140) noted for its early use of light and open spaces.

• High French Gothic: Amiens Cathedral and Notre Dame Cathedral, both exhibiting the height of Gothic architecture and artistic achievement.

Special Gothic Features

• Rayonnant French Gothic:

  • Emphasizes the use of light and windows; an example being St. Chapelle in Paris with its stunning stained glass.

• Flamboyant French Gothic:

  • Characterized by dramatic, S-curved or flame tracery, seen in structures like the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.

English Gothic Development

• Wells Cathedral:

  • The first all-pointed and all-Gothic cathedral (rebuilt 1175), influencing British cathedral designs.

Comparison of English & French Gothic

• Examples include: Wells Cathedral (English Gothic), Amiens Cathedral (French Gothic), and Gloucester Cathedral (Perpendicular Gothic).

• Canterbury Cathedral vs. Notre Dame Cathedral:

  • Both are significant but showcase distinct development and adaptation of the Gothic style in England and France.

'Decorated' Period Characteristics

• Bar Tracery:

  • Designs for windows making stone supports lighter, creating greater visual elegance.

'Perpendicular' Period Features

• Vertical lines in exterior design, reflecting influences from outside Gothic traditions, and introducing decorative vaulting techniques.

Notable Sites

• Gloucester Cathedral: A film set for Harry Potter, it visually represents the detailed craftsmanship of the era.

• Westminster Abbey: The traditional coronation and burial site for monarchs of England, significant for its association with British history.

Conclusion

• Summary of Gothic Art and Architecture highlights the timelines and characteristics, emphasizing a transition towards light-filled, ornate spaces to inspire spirituality and community engagement in worship.